Lebanese Muse Wows UK Jewellery Industry

10:04 AM December 23, 2010

HOT 100 Next Gem Designer wows UK Jewellery industry with international expansion on the horizon

Beirut born Joanna Dahdah’s debut collection Muse has already featured on the pages of Italian Vogue, won her ‘Best Newcomer’ at this year’s London Jewellery Week and most recently placed her with the jewellery elite amongst 100 other aspiring jewellery designers, trendsetters, business big shots and retail stars in the 2010 ‘Hot 100 ’ influential people in the UK jewellery industry sponsored by Professional Jeweller.

Having discovered her interest in jewellery making from an early age, Joanna’s inspiration and style has been guided by her passion for art, an acute and unconventional sense of beauty, an instinctive understanding of materials and unique craftsmanship. Her collections are interpreted through these unique insights and instincts.

As jewellery rapidly became Joanna’s passion, she angled her studies towards making it her career. After graduating in Jewellery Design from the famous Central St. Martin’s, which has produced such industry greats as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Shaun Leane, Joanna was immediately picked up by Swarovski. Renowned for their support of young talent, Joanna embarked on her internship at Swarovski, learning vital skills and having the industry’s finest resources at her disposal. Eager to advance and expand her knowledge of diamonds and precious gemstones, Joanna then enrolled in a gemology course at the prestigious GIA in London.

Since qualifying as a gemologist, Joanna has launched her brand in the UK, Italy and her birthplace, Beirut, where she will be launching her flagship jewellery boutique at the beginning of December.

Joanna comments, “I am extremely excited to be opening my flagship store in my hometown. It will be the first concept store of it’s kind in downtown Beirut, giving visibility and space to some of the leading UK and European designers in the Middle East, drawing on such talent as Shaun Leane and Monica Vinader, in addition to my own brand.

Joanna’s debut collection is available from selected boutiques in the UK and Italy. Her concept store is opening in December 2010 in Beirut.

Since qualifying as a gemologist, Joanna has launched her brand in the UK, Italy and her birthplace, Beirut, where she will be launching her flagship jewellery boutique at the beginning of December.